In the rapidly evolving landscape of cybersecurity, a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) must adopt a proactive and structured approach to safeguard their organization. Establishing a regular cadence of activities is crucial to staying ahead of potential threats, ensuring compliance, and fostering a culture of security awareness throughout the organization. Here’s a detailed timeline of activities that a CISO should integrate into their routine:

Daily Activities

daily tasks are essential for maintaining the ongoing security posture of an organization. Here are key daily activities a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) or their team should consider incorporating into their routine:

1. Monitor Security Alerts: Review and respond to security alerts generated by security information and event management (SIEM) systems, intrusion detection systems (IDS), firewalls, and other security tools. Rapid response to alerts can prevent or mitigate security incidents.
2. Check Threat Intelligence Feeds: Stay informed with the latest cybersecurity threats by checking threat intelligence feeds. This information helps in proactively identifying potential threats that could target the organization.
3. Review System and Network Performance: Monitor system and network performance for any anomalies that could indicate a security issue, such as unexpected traffic spikes, which could suggest a DDoS attack or other malicious activities.
4. Validate Backups: Ensure that data backups are performed as expected and that backup systems are functioning correctly. This is crucial for data recovery in the event of data loss or a cybersecurity incident.
5. Communicate With Key Stakeholders: Maintain open lines of communication with IT staff, cybersecurity team members, and key stakeholders. Sharing information about any issues, updates, or concerns ensures that everyone is aware and can act accordingly.
6. Review Operations Dashboard: If available, review a cybersecurity operations dashboard that provides an overview of the organization’s security posture, including the status of critical systems, ongoing issues, and any outstanding tasks or incidents.
7. Update Incident Log: If any incidents occur, ensure they are logged and documented properly. This includes tracking the status of incidents that are currently being resolved.
8. Stay Updated with Security News: Keeping abreast of general cybersecurity news can provide early warnings about new vulnerabilities, patches, regulatory changes, or threats affecting similar organizations or industries.
9. Email Security: Given the prevalence of phishing and other email-based attacks, it’s advisable to monitor for suspicious email activity and alerts, especially targeting high-profile users within the organization.
10. Team Briefings: Start or end the day with a brief team meeting to discuss any critical issues, updates, or priorities. This ensures the team is aligned and aware of any immediate actions needed.

These daily tasks help build a proactive security culture, enabling the CISO and their team to respond swiftly to threats and maintain a strong security posture. It’s also important for CISOs to delegate specific tasks to team members based on their roles and expertise, ensuring efficient operations without overlooking critical security functions.

Weekly Activities

• Threat Intelligence Review:
  • Monitor and analyze the latest cybersecurity threats and trends.
  • Share relevant intelligence with the cybersecurity team and relevant stakeholders.

• Security Incident Review:
  • Assess recent security incidents or alerts.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the response mechanisms.

• Team Check-ins:
  • Conduct meetings with the cybersecurity team to discuss ongoing challenges, project progress, and upcoming priorities.
    
• Security Tooling Tuning:
  • Assess the currently deployed security tooling to ensure it’s being tuned to staying head of threats, zero days, and CVEs while catching what its suppose to be catching.

Monthly Activities

• Patch Management:
  • Review, prioritize, and apply necessary security patches and updates to all software and systems.

• Policy and Procedure Review:
  • Ensure that cybersecurity policies and procedures reflect the current threat landscape and compliance requirements.

• Training and Awareness:
  • Conduct or update cybersecurity awareness sessions for employees, focusing on current threats, safe practices, and policy updates.

Quarterly Activities

• Risk Assessment:
  • Conduct comprehensive risk assessments to identify new vulnerabilities, threats, and changes in the organizational risk profile.

• Incident Response Drill:
  • Execute simulated cybersecurity incidents to test the robustness and readiness of the incident response plan.

• Access Review:
  • Audit and review user access rights and permissions, ensuring strict adherence to the principle of least privilege.

Bi-Annual Activities

• Vendor Risk Assessment:
  • Evaluate and monitor the cybersecurity practices and compliance of third-party vendors and service providers.

• Security Audit:
  • Schedule and conduct internal or external security audits to proactively identify vulnerabilities and areas of non-compliance.

• Backup and Recovery Test:
  • Verify the effectiveness of backup systems and disaster recovery protocols to ensure business continuity.

Annual Activities

• Strategy Review and Planning:
  • Assess the existing cybersecurity strategy and align the upcoming year’s plan with emerging threats, business objectives, and technological advancements.

• Compliance Review:
  • Perform an extensive review of the organization’s adherence to relevant cybersecurity regulations and standards.

• Employee Training Program Update:
  • Revise the organization-wide cybersecurity training program to incorporate new threats, technologies, and industry best practices.

• Budget Review:
  • Analyze the previous year’s cybersecurity spending and strategically plan the budget for the upcoming year, aligning it with identified needs and priorities.

• Technology and Tools Assessment:
  • Evaluate the current security tools and technologies for effectiveness and explore new solutions to bridge any identified gaps.

This cadence of activities forms a comprehensive framework for a CISO to effectively manage and mitigate cybersecurity risks. However, it’s crucial to maintain flexibility within this structure to promptly address emerging threats and adapt to the dynamic nature of cybersecurity challenges. Regularly revisiting and adjusting this cadence based on organizational growth, technological advancements, and evolving threat landscapes will ensure sustained security and resilience.

Addressing areas like social engineering, web application testing, physical security, Wi-Fi, and IoT assessments is crucial for a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. Here’s an overview of each aspect and key activities that a CISO should incorporate into their cadence:

Social Engineering Assessments

Objective: To identify vulnerabilities in human behavior and organizational processes that could be exploited through social engineering tactics.

• Regular Training and Simulated Phishing Exercises: Conduct regular training sessions to educate employees about various social engineering tactics, like phishing, pretexting, baiting, and tailgating. Perform simulated phishing attacks to assess employee vigilance and response.
• Incident Reporting Mechanism: Establish and promote a clear process for reporting suspected social engineering attempts.
• Awareness Campaigns: Run periodic awareness campaigns to keep security at the forefront of employees’ minds, especially during critical times like tax season or after a widely publicized data breach.

OWASP Web Application Testing

Objective: To identify and mitigate vulnerabilities in web applications, ensuring they are not susceptible to attacks.

• Regular Application Scans: Use automated tools to perform regular scans of web applications against the OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities.
• Manual Testing and Code Review: Periodically perform manual testing and code reviews, especially for high-risk applications or after significant changes.
• Secure Coding Training: Ensure developers are trained in secure coding practices, focusing on preventing vulnerabilities identified by OWASP, such as injection flaws, broken authentication, and sensitive data exposure.

Physical Security Assessments

Objective: To ensure that physical security measures effectively protect the organization’s assets and information.

• Periodic Security Audits: Conduct regular audits of physical security measures, including access controls, surveillance systems, and environmental controls.
• Visitor Management: Ensure that policies for visitor access are strictly enforced, including visitor logs, escorts, and badge controls.
• Emergency Response Drills: Conduct regular drills for emergency response scenarios, such as fire, evacuation, or active shooter situations.

Wi-Fi Assessments

Objective: To secure wireless networks and prevent unauthorized access or data interception.

• Wi-Fi Network Audits: Regularly audit Wi-Fi networks for unauthorized access points, weak encryption, and other vulnerabilities.
• Secure Configuration: Ensure that Wi-Fi networks use strong encryption (WPA3), are properly segmented from internal networks, and have strong passwords.
• Monitoring and Intrusion Detection: Implement continuous monitoring and intrusion detection systems to identify and respond to unauthorized access or anomalies in Wi-Fi network usage.

IoT Assessments

Objective: To secure IoT devices and ecosystems, preventing them from becoming entry points for attackers.

• Inventory and Management: Maintain an up-to-date inventory of IoT devices and ensure they are securely configured and managed.
• Regular Vulnerability Scanning: Periodically scan IoT devices for vulnerabilities, applying necessary patches and updates promptly.
• Network Segmentation: Segregate IoT devices into separate network zones, applying strict access controls and monitoring to prevent lateral movement in case of compromise.

By incorporating these specific activities into their routine, a CISO ensures not just the technical robustness of cybersecurity defenses but also addresses the human and physical aspects, thereby providing a holistic security posture for the organization.